What Can Be Causing Diarrhea And Stomach Pain?

Abdominal pain and diarrhea are common health issues, often resulting from infections like gastroenteritis, food allergies, lactose intolerance, stress, and medication or alcohol use. Acute stomach cramps and diarrhea can be caused by a tummy bug, gastroenteritis, an infection of the stomach and bowel. In many cases, the underlying causes of diarrhea and abdominal pain are caused by bacterial or viral infections or reactions to food. Viral gastroenteritis is an infection of the intestines that typically causes watery diarrhea, pain or cramping in the abdomen, nausea or vomiting. Digestive problems, such as indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, food allergies, or food poisoning, can also cause abdominal pain after eating. Other serious health concerns include stomach flu, food intolerance, menstrual cycles, and digestive conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Gastroenteritis is usually caused by an infection, resulting in diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

How do I know if it’s food poisoning or a stomach virus?

Onset of symptoms. The stomach flu typically has about a 24 to 48 hour incubation period in your system and then starts causing symptoms. In contrast, food poisoning comes on quickly — typically about two to six hours after you’ve eaten spoiled food.

“Let’s say you sit down at a picnic and everybody eats the same food,” says Dr. Ford. “It’s very possible that a lot of people will get the same symptoms. Whereas, with a stomach bug, you may have been around somebody in the last day or two who had similar symptoms. It takes a couple of days for its onset.”

Food poisoning can also be slightly easier to identify because it emerges after a more recent event. “Most people don’t have any problem thinking back to what they’ve just eaten, and realize maybe that egg salad was sitting out for too long,” says Dr. Ford. “They can then trace their symptoms back to that.”

What stomach pains should you never ignore?

5. Your abdomen is swollen or very tender. Like a fever, swelling indicates infection and inflammation. Severe swelling that makes your abdomen feel tender to the touch are signs you should seek prompt medical care for your abdominal pain.

If the pain and swelling concentrate in your lower right abdomen, you could have appendicitis. Appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. If you wait to get help, your appendix could burst and threaten your life.

6. Your pain spreads to your lower back. Abdominal pain that spreads to your lower back may indicate a more serious condition. Pancreatitis, cholecystitis, and kidney stones are a few of the most common causes of intense stomach and lower back pain, and all of these necessitate prompt medical care.

What to do about abdominal pain. If any of the above symptoms sound familiar, schedule an expeditious appointment with Dr. Sambandam or seek urgent medical care as soon as possible.

What is the disease that causes stomach pain and diarrhea?

Definition & Facts. Viral gastroenteritis is an infection of your intestines that typically causes watery diarrhea, pain or cramping in your abdomen, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes fever. People commonly call viral gastroenteritis “stomach flu,” but the term is not medically correct. Flu viruses do not cause viral gastroenteritis.

Symptoms & Causes. The symptoms of viral gastroenteritis include watery diarrhea, pain or cramping in your abdomen, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes fever. Many different viruses can cause viral gastroenteritis. Viral gastroenteritis spreads through contact with small particles of an infected person’s stool or vomit.

Diagnosis. Doctors often diagnose viral gastroenteritis based on your symptoms. If your symptoms are mild and last only a short time, you typically won’t need tests. In some cases, a medical history, a physical exam, and stool tests can help diagnose viral gastroenteritis.

What is the quickest way to get rid of a stomach bug?

Self careLet your stomach settle. Stop eating solid foods for a few hours. Try sucking on ice chips or taking small sips of water often. … Ease back into eating. … Avoid certain foods and substances until you feel better. … Get plenty of rest. … Try anti-diarrhea medications.

Your doctor will likely diagnose viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu) based on symptoms, a physical exam and sometimes on the presence of similar cases in your community. A rapid stool test can detect rotavirus or norovirus, but there are no quick tests for other viruses that cause gastroenteritis. In some cases, your doctor may have you submit a stool sample to rule out a possible bacterial or parasitic infection.

There’s often no specific medical treatment for viral gastroenteritis. Antibiotics aren’t effective against viruses. Treatment first involves self-care measures, such as staying hydrated.

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How long does gastroenteritis last?

Symptoms of gastroenteritis usually last 24 to 72 hours. However, they can last up to 10 days if the stomach flu began while you were travelling abroad or upon your return.

Persons with gastroenteritis are usually contagious when showing symptoms, and most particularly so when symptoms are severe. They may be contagious even a few weeks after symptoms have subsided.

If you have symptoms of gastroenteritis, it is important to stay home to heal and to avoid transmitting the illness to other people, until all symptoms have disappeared.

Gastroenteritis is generally not serious. Most people take care of themselves at home and self-heal without taking medicines. However, in some cases, you should consult a doctor or contact Info-Santé 811.

What can I do when my stomach hurts and I have diarrhea?

Symptoms typically go away without treatment after a few days in both cases. People can try home remedies, such as drinking plenty of fluids, resting, and taking over-the-counter medications to ease discomfort.

Parasitic infections can also cause acute diarrhea and abdominal pain. This type of infection often clears up within a few weeks. Persistent outbreaks may require medical treatment.

Something a person has eaten or drunk can potentially cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, and other types of stomach problems. Symptoms typically occur for short periods and will usually go away a few hours after eating.

• Sudden changes in diet
• eating rich, fatty foods
• food sensitivities
• celiac disease, where the body cannot break down gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley

What is the fastest way to cure upset stomach and diarrhea?

Modifying your diet to eat plain, bland food; drinking water and other clear liquids; and taking anti-diarrheal medications may help you get rid of diarrhea quicker if your case is mild. And if your child has a severe case of diarrhea, your doctor might prescribe racecadotril, which is shown to ease the symptoms of diarrhea and shorten its duration by a day.

There is no one best medication, as what helps one person might not help you. The most common over-the-counter medications include loperamide (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate) to treat the symptoms of diarrhea.

Mild cases of diarrhea typically last a few days in adults, but it can last 5-14 days in infants.

When should I be concerned about stomach pain and diarrhea?

Abdominal pain is a common and often unresolved issue that affects the abdominal region, often causing nausea, stomach cramps, and difficulty moving. It can be caused by various factors, including viral gastroenteritis, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, food allergies, lactose intolerance, food poisoning, and a stomach virus. More serious causes include appendicitis, an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a bowel blockage, cancer, and gastroesophageal reflux.

Mild abdominal pain can be managed with clear fluids, avoiding solid food for the first few hours, and eating small amounts of mild foods like rice, applesauce, or crackers after vomiting. Antacids may help with high abdominal pain after meals, especially if you are experiencing heartburn or indigestion.

If abdominal pain persists for more than a week, doesn’t improve within 24 to 48 hours, or if bloating lasts more than two days, or if diarrhea lasts for more than five days, it is essential to seek medical attention. If abdominal pain persists for more than a week, doesn’t improve within 24 to 48 hours, bloating lasts more than two days, or diarrhea lasts for more than five days, it is crucial to seek medical attention.

In summary, abdominal pain is a common and often unresolved issue that can be caused by various factors. It is important to seek immediate medical attention if the pain persists or worsens.

What is the fastest way to flush out food poisoning?

There is no single treatment that will speed up recovery, Dibba said. It takes time for your body to flush out the toxins causing the food poisoning, usually 24 to 48 hours.

To keep yourself comfortable and avoid dehydration, Majlesi recommended staying constantly hydrated. If you are replenishing with an electrolyte solution, make sure the product is low in sugar. “Some of the electrolyte solutions have way too much sugar in them and can actually worsen diarrhea, so you want to be careful about that,” he said.

Along with water, the National Institutes of Health recommends adults replace lost fluids with broths and sports drinks. Additionally, NIH advises fruit juice with water added to make it more diluted. Children, on the other hand, should use an oral rehydration solution such as Pedialyte to ease food poisoning symptoms.

You’ll also want to steer clear of solid foods for 24 hours, especially if you are having trouble keeping food down. Majlesi said doing so gives the digestive system time to rest and recover during this period of inflammation. Adults can take over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications such as bismuth subsalicylate (brand names Kaopectate and Pepto-Bismol) or loperamide (brand name Imodium) to manage diarrhea symptoms.

How to know if stomach pain is serious?

For mild abdominal pain, call your doctor first. If the pain is sudden, severe or does not ease within 30 minutes, seek emergency medical care.

Sudden abdominal pain is often an indicator of serious intra-abdominal disease, such as a perforated ulcer or a ruptured abdominal aneurysm, although it could also result from a benign disease, such as gallstones.

Continuous, severe abdominal pain—or abdominal pain accompanied by continuous vomiting—may indicate a serious or life-threatening condition, such as one of the types described below.

• Symptoms of appendicitis may include severe pain (usually in the lower right abdomen, but may start anywhere in the abdomen), loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting or fever. Treatment generally requires urgent surgical removal of the appendix. Long delays in treatment can cause serious complications resulting from perforation (rupture) of the appendix, which can lead to a life-threatening infection.
• Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include severe abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. In an ectopic pregnancy, a fertilized egg has implanted outside of the normal site in the “womb” or uterus, such as in the fallopian tubes.
• Symptoms of acute pancreatitis usually include pain in the middle upper abdomen that may last for a few days. The pain may become severe and constant, or it may be sudden and intense. It may also begin as mild pain that gets worse when food is eaten. Other symptoms include nausea, a swollen and tender abdomen, fever and a rapid pulse.

How long can stomach pain and diarrhea last?

What Causes Diarrhea?. Diarrhea (dye-uh-REE-uh) is usually caused by an infection in the intestines, called gastroenteritis (gastro-en-ter-EYE-tiss).

Gastroenteritis can cause crampy belly pain, followed by diarrhea that lasts about 3–5 days. Other symptoms may include:

• Fever
• loss of appetite
• nausea (an uncomfortable feeling before vomiting)
• vomiting
• weight loss
• dehydration

Children with diarrhea lasting longer than a couple of weeks may have other symptoms, depending on the cause.